Absorption, reaction, and like column



Sept. 4, 1923; msw n... GAY

ABSORPTION, REACTION, ANDLIKE COLUMN am May 26, 1919 2 sheets-sheet 1 {7 zannzat LaN any.

Sept. 4, 1923. 1,466,936

L. GAY

ABSORPTION, REACTION, AND LIKE COLUMN Filed May 26, 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @Wa "W973.

Patented Sept. 4, 1923.

nert" LEON GAY, OF GRENOBLE, FRANCE.

ABSORPTION, REACTION, AND LIKE COLUMN.

Application filed May 26,

To all-whom it may concern:

Be it known that LiioN GAY, chemist, a citizen of the French Republic, whose postofiice address is 87 Cours St. Andr, Gre- 6 noble, France, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Absorption, Reaction, and like Columns, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to absorption, re- 10 action, distillation, rectification and like columns, intended to cause any gas or vapour to act or re-act on any liquid.

It is applied more artlcularly to washers for the gases from co re ovens and blast furnaces, especially for the extraction of ammonia, to devices for freeing these gases and illuminating gas from benzol, for recovering thevapours of volatile liquids d1str1buted in work shops and drying chambers, etc. The objects of the invention are to ensure a methodical agitation of the liquids, to regulate the action of the gases or of the vapours under treatment, on the difierent portions of the liquid and to obtain a thorough contact of the gases or the vapours with the liquids one portion of the liquid being brought a great number of times in contact with the ases or the vapours.

With t e above objects in view the im- 80 proved column comprises a casing or shaft a plurality of spaced horizontal plates or stages fixed therein, a plurality of gas pas sages and a plurality of vertical tubes fixed in the plates for the passa e of the gas or liquid between different p ates, the liquid tubes being arranged to project above and below the plates. The part of any liquid tube projecting below the plate extends to the vicinity of the plate situated immediately below, and a'sleeve resting on the plate is adapted to enclose at the same time the lower part of a liquid tube of an upper plate and the upper part of a 1i uid tube of the next lower plate, the said s eeve bein r open at its upper end which comes into t 1e 1mmediate vicinity of the plate above and be ing formed with long and narrow vertical slots and in the lower part with wide openings at the place of contact with the lower plate, a filling material being placed in the spaces between the lates to the level of t e upper ends of t e slots in the sleeves which surround the liquid tubes.

In the accompanying drawing given by way of example.

1919. Serial N0. 298,885.

Fig. 1 shows in longitudinal section a portion of two successive plates or stages with single walls of an absorption column.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of a portion of an absorption column showing two successive plates or stages with double walls omitting, vertical slots in and wide apertures at the lower end of the sleeves.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 2 and Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of Fig. 2 showing the filling material.

The improved column comprises a casing or shaft in which a plurality of vertically spaced horizontal plates or stages 1, 1, are arranged, the plates or stages having vertical tubes fixed therein which afford a passage either to the liquids or to the gases or va ours.

he gas or vapour pipes indicated at 2, 2* are of relatively wide section, and project from the upper surfaces of the lates, each pipe 2 or 2" being covered by a 00d 3 or 3* resting on the plate and either perforated adjacent to the plate or formed with notches 1); through which the gases or vapours can Tubes 4, 4 4 of small section, intended for the passage of the liquid project through the plates for some distance both above and below the same, the part that rojects from the upper surface of any plate eing slightly shorter than the gas tubes 2, 2 whilst the part that projects downwards from the lower surface of the plate 1 for example extends to a point near the plate 1 situated immediately below.

A sleeve 5 interposed between adjacent upper and lower plates 1, 1 encloses both the lower part of the liquid tube 4 depending from the upper plate 1 and the upper part of the liquid tube 4 which pro ects above the lower plate 1*. The sleeves 5 are of such diameter that a large passage for the liquids is left between the tubes and their surrounding sleeves and the sleeves are open at their upper ends adjacent 'to the plates above them.

A series of narrow elongated vertical slots 5' are formed in the sleeves 5 the bottom of the slots being approximately at the same level as the top of the gas tubes 2, 2 whilst at the lower ends of the sleeves wide apertures 5 are formed.

When there is an advantage in heating (or in cooling) the liquids and gasses or li uid tubes.

vapours under treatment in the column, plates or stages with double walls (Fig. 2) are employed.

In order to heat the liquids and gases, a stream of hot air or of steam under-suitable pressure is conveyed into the space 1 between the two walls or if it be desired to cool the liquids and the gasses a stream of cold water is circulated through the space 1 formed by the double walls. The heating or cooling medium is conveyed into the space 1 through an inlet tube 7 and passes around and between bafiie plates 8, 9, 10 and 11 to an outlet tube 12. (F 1g. 3).

The various vertical tubes or junctions are arranged on the plates or stages at the points of intersection of a series of straight lines re larly spaced and arranged aral lel to t ree directions forming ang es of 60. They are so distributed that on one and the same straight line there are alternately two gas junctions and one liquid junction.

The collocation of these tubes gives the appearance in plan of uniform juxtaposed hexagons, the gas junctions being located at the angles and the liquid junctions at the centres. (Fig. 3).

The space between the plates is provided with filling material 13 up to the level of the upper ends of the slots 5 in the sleeves 5 which surround the liquid junctions.

When at rest each plate is covered with liquid 14 to a depth equal to the length of the upwardly projecting portions of the hen an ascending stream of gas or of vapours passes through the column there arises in this liquid in the spaces and interstices between the filling materials, a hubbling which tends to carry the liquid along in the movement of the gases.

In each hexagon the liquid is raised around the sleeve 5 of the liquid junctions. It flows to the interior of the sleeve 5 through the slots 5 in the upper part of the sleeve and issues therefrom through the lower openings 5.

In this way a methodical stirring of the liquid layer 14 is assured each particle of the liquid coming in contact with the gases and vapours several times. Any objectionable space where the liquid might remain in stagnation is obviated and the action of the gaseous current is practically the same over all the liquid particles.

The apparatus may be made of copper, sheet iron, or material which are not affected by corrosive substances such as sandstone, enameled castings, ferro-silicium melted quartz, etc.

I claim:

1. An absorption, reaction; distillation, rectification and like column comprising a easing or shaft a plurality of spaced horizontal plates or stages fixed therein and having a plurality of gas passages therein, a plurality of vertical tubes fixed in the plates for the passage of liquid between different plates the liquid tubes being arranged to project above and below the plates the part of any liquid tube projecting below the plate extending to the vicinity of the plate situated immediately below, a sleeve resting on the plate and adapted to enclose at the same time the lower part of a liquid tube or an upper plate and the upper part of a liquid tube of the next lower plate the said sleeve being open at its upper end which comes into the immediate vicinit of the plate above and being formed wit long and narrow vertical slots and in the lower part with wide openings at the place of contact with the lower plate, and a filling material placed in the spaces between the plates to the level of the upper ends of the slots in the sleeves which surround the liquid tubes.

2. An absorption, reaction, distillation, rectificationi'and like column, comprising a casing or shaft, a plurality of spaced horizontal plates or stages. fixed therein, a plurality of vertical gas tubes arranged to project upwards from openings in the plates, hoods covering the gas tubes and provided with openings adjacent to the plates, a plurality of vertical tubes fixed in the plates for the passage of liquid between different plates the liquid tubes being arranged to project-above and below the plates the part of any liquid tube projecting above its supporting plate being slightly shorter than the gas tubes and the part projecting below the plate extending to the vicinity of the plate situated immediately below, a sleeve resting on the plate and adapted to enclose at the same time the lower part of a liquid tube of an upper plate and the upper part of a liquid tube of the next lower plate the said sleeve being open at its upper end which comes into the immediate vicinity of the plate above and being formed with long and narrow vertical slots and in the lower part with wide openings at the place of contact with the lower plate and a filling material placed in the spaces between the plates to the level of the upper ends of the slots in the sleeves which surround the liquid tubes.

3. An absorption, reaction, distillation, rectification and like column comprising a casing or shaft, a plurality of spaced horizontal plates or stages fixed therein. a plurality of vertical gas tubes arranged to project upwards from openings in the plates. hoods covering the gas tubes and provided with openings adjacent to the plates, a plurality of vertical tubes fixed in the plates for the passage of liquid between difi'erent plates the liquid tubes being arranged to project above and below the plates,

the part of any liquid tube projecting above its supporting plate being slightly shorter than the gas tubes and the part projecting below the plate extending to the vicinity of the plate situated immediately below, a sleeve resting on the plate and adapted to enclose at the same time the lower part of a liquid tube of an upper plate and the upl per part of a liquid tube of the next lower plate of said sleeve being open at its upper end which comes into the immediate vicinity of the plate above and being formed with long and narrow vertical slots and in the lower part with wide openings at the place of contact with the lower plate, and a filling material placed in the spaces between the plates to the level of the upper ends of the 

